Tipperary crush Cork with second-half final masterclass to claim All-Ireland crown
RTE's Pat McGrath speaks to relieved Tipperary hurling fans in Thurles, after their side won the Liam McCarthy Cup.
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The 42
5 hours ago
- The 42
'I wasn't in good form for a few months after. You're so close to the players'
IN THE WAKE of their second All-Ireland final defeat in a row, Meath ladies manager Eamonn Murray was ready to quit. Tyrone slammed six goals past them the first day out in Croke Park to become the 2018 intermediate champions. And now Tipperary were muscling past to take the crown by five points. The summit was falling further and further from view. He didn't want this job when it was first offered to him. Murray, who had been happily immersed in the underage structures for the past 15 years, wanted to continue working with the Meath minors. He tried to repel the charms of then Meath chairman Fearghal Harney before eventually giving in. He took the reins in 2017, bringing the highly-rated coach Paul Garrigan along with him. Languishing in Division 3 at the time, only Fermanagh would agree to a challenge match. Squad morale was low. Only the promise of a two-week trial was enough to persuade players to buy in to his vision. Goalkeeper Monica McGuirk had just finished up playing soccer in the Women's National League when Murray came calling. 'Players were sick of me ringing them every week,' he says looking back at the building blocks of a modern dynasty in ladies football. Two Brendan Martin Cups and a Division 1 title would be the pick of his achievements as Meath manager. Emma Duggan in action for Meath in the 2019 All-Ireland intermediate final against Tipperary. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO But in this moment, after two All-Ireland intermediate final defeats, he couldn't shake the self-doubt. Perhaps it was time to allow someone else take over and complete the mission. A conversation with his four daughters rinsed the despair out of his mind. They reminded him of how far Meath had travelled under his watch. ''You've done the hard work. Don't leave now,'' they told him. It was just the tonic he needed to launch a third attack from the trenches. And by the end of a pandemic-affected 2020 season, Meath were finally All-Ireland intermediate champions. A day to remember as they defeated Westmeath by 2-17 to 4-5 just shortly before Christmas. Advertisement Murray had some concerns about the four goals they conceded that day, but the work needed to tighten their defensive shape would soon follow. For now, Meath could enjoy their breakthrough success. The extra few percent they were missing was rooted in a fitness plan devised by their strength and conditioning coach Eugene Eivers. During the days when collective training was prohibited, girls from the same parish paired up to complete the runs together. 'I just couldn't believe the time they're doing at the end of that,' Murray adds. 'When we came back after Covid, our girls were in super shape. We knew we were going to win it. We conceded a lot of goals, and we said to ourselves, 'We're never going to concede that many goals again,' and we didn't. 'We kept getting players in as well, and changing the team. I remember being in Croke Park against Tyrone and I looked at the physique they had compared to ours. We just upped that end of things.' Eamonn Murray and Aoibhín Cleary celebrate after Meath's victory in the 2021 All-Ireland senior final. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO The momentum of that victory propelled Meath to even greater heights in 2021. Facing a Dublin team aiming to complete an All-Ireland five in a row, Murray's Royals prevailed to conquer the top tier of ladies football. They defended their title the following year when Kerry were the challengers. And through it all, they honoured that promise to curtail the number of goals conceded. Dublin failed to score any goals in the 2021 final. And while the now retired Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh scored a goal for Kerry the following year, Niamh O'Sullivan, Emma Troy and Bridgetta Lynch clattered the Kingdom net. Meath's intermediate celebrations were understandably curtailed by the pandemic but no such barrier interfered with the parties that followed their senior triumphs. 'It was a strange feeling heading back to Navan that night with about 20 people watching us there,' Murray says referring to the afters of their 2020 decider. 'We went upstairs to the hotel with masks on, had a dinner at two or three pints of Guinness and home at 10 o'clock. 'Move forward to next year when we won senior and some of the girls didn't get home for a week.' Murray stepped down as Meath manager shortly after the 2022 season. At the time, it seemed that his exit was partly motivated by the Vikki Wall and Orlagh Lally's decision to take up offers in the AFLW. But others were departing too. Paul Garrigan and Eugene Eivers switched backroom teams in Meath to work under the then men's senior manager Colm O'Rourke. Aoibheann Leahy, Emma Troy and Kelsey Nesbitt were all stepping away, and Murray felt a rebuild would be too much. Everything was coming to a natural conclusion. 'It wasn't easy. My gosh, it broke my heart. I wasn't in good form for a few months after. You're so close to the players. 'Some of them I was with since they were 16. They are part of your family. You spend more time with them than they do with their own family.' Switching from mentor to supporter has been an interesting process for Murray. The calmness he brought to the sideline has been replaced by the sound of his voice cheering the team on. He can't help but compare his management style with that of the current boss Shane McCormack, but he accepts that as a natural part of the transition. He was thrilled to see his former side finally get the better of their 2022 All-Ireland final opponents Kerry in this year's semi-final after two consecutive championship defeats. And he looked on with furious confusion at some of the decisions given against Vikki Wall. Her sin-bin against Kildare in the All-Ireland series was a major talking point as she was adjudged to have fouled Claire Sullivan when many felt the decision should have gone in Wall's favour. Like others, Murray feels she is mistreated by match officials on account of her superior strength. 'It's one of my most frustrating things to watch. 'There's no other girl or man or person in the country that has to hold their hands up in the air when attacking someone. She has to hold her hands up now in a tackle so the referee sees clearly she's not using her hands. Meath's Vikki Wall. Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO 'She's almost too big for the rules. It's very hard to change directions coming at her speed. And players are out there saying, 'I'll stop Vikki Wall.' Every team has a few players trying to stop her. And they're not trying to stop her legally but they get away with it.' Murray has coached Wall since her underage days, and has marvelled at her physical transformation as she moved up the grades. 'She never left the gym, and she was running day and night. That's what she does. You rarely see her injured. She's an example to every young player in the country. And she's probably one of the easiest players I've ever managed. She never complained. Related Reads 'I was trending number one in Ireland on Twitter ahead of Rashford and Coldplay!' Leading Meath, AFLW adventure, and a couple chasing All-Ireland glory Dublin beat Galway after extra-time to set up All-Ireland final showdown with Meath 'She's the ultimate team player. I think she really brought on Emma Duggan, her clubmate as well. Emma was very lucky to have her there at the time. The both of them get on very well and play very well together. 'The lift that gives the Meath team when she gets the ball.' There's no regrets about not being part of the Meath management team that has guided the Royals back to an All-Ireland final. He's happy to be a full-time fan. His family were glued to Meath's progress when Murray was in charge and remain full invested this weekend for another trip to Croke Park. It was their intervention that convinced him to stay when all he wanted to do was quit. A familiar foe awaits on the other side of the line, and just like in 2021, they're considered outsiders against Dublin. Murray knows how well Meath are suited to the underdog tag. 'We've always told them that you should always feel like you're an underdog. 'They're on a great roll and to beat the All-Ireland champions as well, that has to mean something. I'm sure it'll be well worth watching. 'I'd advise anybody who loves football and sports to go and watch it because there will be plenty of excitement to watch.' *****
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Sharlene Mawdsley drops World Championships bombshell after gritty Irish Nationals 200m triumph in Santry
TIPPERARY star Sharlene Mawdsley admits she could skip the individual 400m at next month's World Championships in Tokyo. The news comes following Advertisement 2 Sharlene Mawdsley won the 200m Irish title despite strong winds in Santry on Saturday 2 Sharlene Mawdsley is uncertain if she'll race the individual 400m at next month's World Championships in Japan The sprinter powered to victory at Morton Stadium in windy conditions as she clocked at time of 23.55 seconds' 'I knew today was going to be a really hard task and to come out on top, I'm absolutely thrilled. Advertisement read more on atheltics 'Sarah was ahead of me, and I was just saying to myself, stay calm, stay strong, and dig deep, and thankfully I ended up winning the title. 'It was a pity about the wind, but it was close to a PB and that'll give me great confidence heading into my last race before worlds on the 16th of this month.' That final warm-up race will be in the 400m in Berne, Switzerland. But Mawdsley will first return to London to train with her coach after withdrawing from the 400m heats in Dublin. Advertisement Most read in Athletics She added: 'My summer so far, look, it has been mixed, I missed a good block of training and that's hard to come back from - but the support I've had got me through that race today.' While her place in the 400m relay squad for the World Championships is secure, the 26-year-old isn't sure whether she'll take on the individual event too. Sharlene Mawdsley takes part in hilarious road race as part of Tipperary's All-Ireland celebration 'I haven't actually decided; I know I won't say no to the relays. "I'm always the first one in, but we'll see about the individual. It has been a tough year. We'll see closer to the time.' Advertisement
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Sharlene Mawdsley overhauls Sarah Lavin to land women's 200m national title
Sarah Lavin might have had the speed, but in a clash of styles over 200m in Santry on Saturday, it was Sharlene Mawdsley who had the best strength – and that proved key in carrying the Tipperary sprinter to the national title. Mawdsley came from behind to overhaul Lavin in the home straight of the women's 200m, the undoubted highlight on day one of the National Track and Field Championships at Morton Stadium. The match-up pitted the raw speed of Lavin – the second fastest Irishwoman in history over 100m – against the formidable speed endurance of Mawdsley, who stepped down from her specialist 400m distance. Lavin ran an impressive bend and turned for home just in front, but over the latter half Mawdsley's strength told as she powered past, clocking 23.55 into a stiff, 2.6m/s headwind. Lavin hit the line second with 23.80 and Lauren Roy just behind in third with 23.88. 'I'm really happy,' said Mawdsley. 'Sarah came out [well] and sometimes I get really tight when someone comes up on me, but I've been training this year with girls who've been beating me all around, so I was really happy to come away with the win. I'm in a weird transition [in training] at the moment so I wanted to go down to the 200m and have a bit of fun.' Sharlene Mawdsley of Newport AC, Tipperary, centre, gold, Sarah Lavin of Emerald AC, Limerick, silver, and Lauren Roy of Fast Twitch AC, bronze. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile. Marcus Lawler was a hugely impressive winner of the men's 200m, the Carlow native, who runs for Clonliffe AC, blasting to victory in 20.66 (0.4m/s), a long way clear of Darragh McConville (21.41) and Adam Murphy (21.51). 'I'm delighted with the run,' said Lawler. 'It's pretty decent in terms of the overall season. I got out very well and wanted to attack the first 50, I came into the straight really well and from that point, it was about trying to hold it as best I could.' The men's 800m heats offered an intriguing insight into what's to come on Sunday evening, with Mark English and Cian McPhillips set to duel for the national title. English is enjoying a breakthrough season at the age of 32, having run the five quickest times of his career over 800m, highlighted by his national record of 1:43.92. He will seek his 10th national outdoor title and will toe the line as favourite, but he will face a stiff test from 23-year-old McPhillips, who is seeking his first national outdoor title, having smashed his lifetime best to recently win at the Morton Games in 1:44.19. Both coasted to victory in their respective 800m heats, with English turning on the jets in notable fashion over the last 100m to clock 1:48.92 and McPhillips running well within himself to coast home in 1:52.58. 'It's going to be great, it should be a good fight,' said McPhillips. 'I'm looking forward to it.' There should be another thrilling duel in the men's 1500m final where Andrew Coscoran and Cathal Doyle look to hold all the aces, with both coasting through their heats on Saturday. Paris Olympian Eric Favors proved a class apart in the men's shot put, the Raheny athlete taking gold with a best of 19.58m while his clubmate Niamh Fogarty took the women's shot put with 14.29m. Farranfore's David Kenny was an impressive winner of the men's 10,000m race walk, clocking 39:39.93, while Kate Veale of West Waterford racked up another title in the women's 5000m race walk, clocking 23:46.46. Abbie Sheridan of St Peter's claimed victory in the women's 3000m steeplechase in 10:05.72, while the men's title was won in fine style by Finley Daly of Sligo in 8:59.04. Darragh Fahy of Loughrea took the men's triple jump with 13.91m, Aoife O'Sullivan of Liscarroll took the women's high jump with 1.75m, while Raheny's Daphni Doulaptsi Teeuwen inflicted a rare defeat on Saragh Buggy in the women's triple jump, taking gold with 13.05m to Buggy's 12.74m. Conor Penney of Craughwell took the men's high jump with 2.10m, while Conor Cusack of Lake District took the men's javelin with 75.42m. UCD's quartet of Ella Duane, Molly Hourihan, Anna Lalor and Rhianna McCarthy took the women's 4x100m in 48.40, while Tallaght's team of Simon Essuman, David Aigboboh, Joseph Finnegan Murphy and Joseph Ojewumi took the men's 4x100m in 41.66. Sunday's action will be live streamed on the Athletics Ireland YouTube channel, with live coverage on RTÉ Two from 5-7.30pm. Day tickets cost €15, while U-16s go free.
